
NOTE.—"This petition for wisdom is not
to be a meaningless prayer, out of mind as
soon as finished. It is a prayer that ex-
presses the strong, earnest desire of the
heart, arising from a conscious lack of
wisdom to determine the will of God.
"After the prayer is made, if the answer
is not realized immediately, do not weary
of waiting and become unstable. Waver
not. Cling to the promise. . . . Watch and
pray. Be steadfast and the prayer will be
answered; for is it not God who has
promised? . . . You are plainly told that
if you waver you need not think that you
shall receive anything of the Lord. A
caution is here given not to become weary,
but to rest firmly upon the promise. If
you ask, He will give you liberally and
upbraid
not."—Testimonies,
Vol. 2, p. 131.
9.
How will persistent doubt and
hesitancy affect the prayer for wis-
dom? James 1:6 (last part), 7.
NOTE.—"His promise is only to those
who are willing to follow the Lord wholly.
God does not force the will of any; hence
He cannot lead those who are too proud
to be taught, who are bent upon having
their own way. Of the double-minded man
—he who seeks to follow his own will,
while professing to do the will of God—it
is written, 'Let not that man think that he
shall receive anything of the Lord.' James
1:7."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 384.
10.
What does a doubting attitude
toward God's promises reveal con-
cerning a man? James 1:8. Compare
Matt. 6:24.
NOTE.—A double-minded man is not sure
whether God means what He has promised
and can be trusted to do it.
"The exhortation is given, 'Purify your
hearts, ye double-minded.' While professing
to be Christians, many have the mold of
the world upon them, and their affections
are not set upon God. They are double-
minded, making an attempt to serve God
and mammon at the same time; but the
world's Redeemer has declared, 'Ye can-
not serve God and mammon' (Matt. 6:24).
By trying to serve two masters, they are
unstable in all their ways, and cannot be
depended upon. To all appearances they
are serving God, while at the same time in
heart they are yielding to the temptation
of Satan and cherishing sin. They may
speak words that are smoother than oil,
yet their hearts are full of deception and
deceit in all their practices. Professing to
be righteous, yet they have a heart that is
desperately wicked.
"Of what profit is it to say pleasant
things, to deplore the work of Satan, and
yet at the same time to enter into the ful-
fillment of all his devices? This is being
double-minded."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
S.D.A. Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p.
938.
Trials Bring Humility and
Steadfastness
11.
In what way may the poor man
rejoice when he experiences trials?
James 1:9; Matt. 5:3.
NOTE.—"Of
low degree. . . .
'In humble
circumstances,' and thus, of lowly rank or
employment, in a condition of dependence
or of poverty. This phrase is in contrast
with 'the rich' in v. 10. This condition of
economic difficulty is a trial many are
called upon to face. . . . These circum-
stances were a trial in the sense that they
tested his 'faith' in God and his allegiance
to God. 'The brother of low degree' is ever
tempted to be jealous and resentful toward
his 'rich' brother, and the 'rich' brother to
think himself superior to the 'brother of
low degree' and to take advantage of him.
"Rejoice.
Literally, `glory,' boast.' . . .
With the 'wisdom' (v. 5) that God gives
us we can view life in proper perspective.
We can see the things of time in the light
of eternity. . . . The progress a man makes
spiritually is vastly more important than
the progress he makes economically. The
`glorying' consists in the realization that
despite the lack of earthly possessions, God
compensates the humble Christian far be-
yond the joys that the fleeting possessions
of earth give."—S.D.A.
Bible Commentary,
on James 1:9.
12.
In what may the man of means
rejoice? James 1:10, 11. Compare
Heb. 11:24-26.
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